The pace of Missouri labor market’s recovery was essentially flat in August 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 1,200 jobs over the month, and over-the year job losses increased slightly from upwardly revised July levels.
     The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point from July 2020 to August 2020. 
     Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has now been either below or equal to the national rate for 66 consecutive months. The national unemployment rate was 8.4 percent in August 2020. 
     The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 215,249 in August 2020, up by 3,825 from July’s revised 211,424. 
     Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate went up by a tenth of a percentage point in August 2020, increasing to 7.0 percent from the July 2020 rate of 6.9 percent. 
     Due to on-going impacts of COVID-19 shutdowns, the August 2020 rate was still more than double the August 2019 rate. The rate had reached a record low of 3.0 percent starting in July 2018, before edging up a tenth of a point in November 2018 and again in December 2018. The rate had remained at 3.2 percent through April 2019 before decreasing by a tenth of a point in May 2019. It then began a slow increase, reaching 3.4 percent in October 2019, where it remained for the remainder of 2019. The rate was steady at 3.5 percent   
     |n January and February 2020 before the COVID-19 spike began in March 2020. The rate peaked at 10.2 percent in April 2020 before decreasing slightly in May 2020, then moving strongly lower in June and July of 2020 as COVID-19 restrictions were eased. 
     The state’s not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 7.1 percent in August 2020, down by a tenth of a percentage point from the July 2020 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 7.2 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for August 2020 was 8.5 percent.  
     A year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 3.2 percent, and the not-adjusted rate was 3.5 percent. 
 

​The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of September 2-8, 2020.
 

     Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean’s list. 
     For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least six credit hours during the summer semester and at least a 3.50 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale).
     Grain Valley:
     Molly Dixon
 

     An unseasonably cool night was the setting at Moody Murray Stadium for the Grain Valley Boys Soccer program in their September 8th 4-0 loss to the visiting William Chrisman Bears. Javier Ortiz-Merino was responsible for the Bears shutout in goal. Ortiz-Merino’s finest save came 17 minutes into the second half on a shot from the Eagles Owen White. Grain Valley senior forward Pierson Jaynes set up the Eagles best chance to score with a well-placed pass to White on the attempt.
     William Chrisman was able to secure two goals in each half while leading Grain Valley in shots on goal at seven to six. Grain Valley labored to get a good offensive turn on balls they possessed while trying to charge into the Bears half of the field. The majority of loose balls up for grabs on passes or long kicks went the way of William Chrisman.
     Eagles Senior defenseman Nathan Manning and his counterpart, junior defenseman Gage Levell turned in strong efforts with their backs against their goal during the first half. Levell was responsible for three stops that resulted in possessions for his team going the other way. Levell was successful in mirroring the ball and the offensive player in front of him.
     “Basically, its about confidence and who wants the ball more when you are in those situations. I focus on the ball because its going to take you where their foot wants it to go. Hard work in practice will pay off for you in getting stops,” Levell said.
     “Tonight, was a tough loss. I believe personally the team could’ve worked harder. Communication on the field will be important for us to bounce back along with putting the effort into winning.”
     Grain Valley midfielder Micah Siems was another bright spot for the Eagles in defeat. Siems was able to dribble the ball through traffic when needed as well as distributing well placed passes to his teammates. The result was offensive charges by the Eagles that came up short on the Bears side of the field.
     “Our communication was down tonight. We weren’t talking enough. Our defense was there, but we didn’t have midfielders there enough to back them up. If we got the ball out, no one was there to win it. They (William Chrisman) worked harder than us,” Siems said.
     “We tried to get momentum going the other way in our favor. A couple of well placed passes can get a team’s head up and going. It helps you keep control of the ball and thinking correctly. That will help us moving forward.”
     Eagles Head Boys Soccer Coach Brett Lewis reflected on his team’s efforts versus their Suburban Conference opponent after the game. Lewis was quick to acknowledge the positives that came out of the contest as well as opportunities for improvement with his team moving forward.
     “Our back four did pretty well tonight outside a few mental slips. (Nathan) Manning is a great player and a good senior leader. He works his tail off and is a good communicator. That’s why we like him at the center back,” Lewis said.
     “Gage (Levell) works his tail off as well. He’s able to get up into the attack mix and is very fit. We like that about him. He allows us to attack from the outside with him playing the outside back. Those two guys are special to our program.”
     “Owen White is a good player as well and we’re glad to have him. Last year he played on Sporting Academy’s team and he can break down a defense. When we get him in space at the ten spot as the attacking center mid we have some success. My wish tonight is that we would’ve gotten him the ball more.”
     “Siems played well tonight also. He filled in as a defensive mid as that is not his normal spot. He facilitates possession really well by being tough and hard-nosed in what he does.”
     Lewis concluded, “Our possession at times tonight was dismal. And really, we are going to be smaller, not as fast, and not as physical as every other team we play. That’s our part of our identity and a big reason why we have to solidly possess the ball.”
     “We don’t have the success we would like when we don’t possess. Today, we got away from our identity in trying to play too direct over the top. Not to make excuses, but the wet turf didn’t help in that the ball skipped and rolled a lot faster than we are used to, which hurt possession. We will work on that though and find ways to overcome as we are a technical team.”
     The Eagles took to the field again on Wednesday, September 9th in a 2-1 loss against the Blue Springs Wildcats. Grain Valley moves to 1-4 on the season. Grain Valley’s next home game will be against Oak Park on September 16th.
 

​     The Grain Valley Eagles stingy defense finally relented with five seconds left in the fourth quarter on Friday, September 4th. The Eagles second string defense fought hard to keep the shutout intact to no avail against the visiting Oak Park Northmen.
     Grain Valley’s sideline was extremely vocal in showering their backups with encouragement to hold their opponent out of the end zone. Oak Park’s only score would come on a rushing touchdown from Northmen sophomore quarterback Karl Knaak with five seconds left in the game.
     The Eagles improve to a 2-0 record with their 36-6 victory over Oak Park. The second week in a row Grain Valley would rack up a win against a suburban conference foe. Grain Valley has stood toe to toe with two heavyweight teams early in the season and has shown improvement in all phases of the game thus far.
     Defensive stalwarts for the Eagles against Oak Park included senior linebacker Hunter Newsom and sophomore safety Keegan Hart. Newsom would lead the Eagles with ten tackles, including one tackle for a loss.
     Gap integrity and the ability to shed blocks was on display by Newsom all night long as he patrolled the middle of the Eagles defense in effectively stymying the Oak Park rushing attack.
     “I could not do what I do if it were not for my defensive line. They do a good job of keeping guys off us (linebackers). We had to adjust to what Oak Park was doing throughout the first quarter,” Newsom said.
     “They (Oak Park) had such tight alignment (with their offensive lineman splits) we couldn’t fly up (to the line of scrimmage) and get caught in the trash. We had to get off blocks and stay outside the trash to come down hill and make tackles.”
     Hart continues to show growth as the last line of defense in the Eagles defense at his free safety position. Four tackles and three pass break ups would underscore Hart’s night.
     No panic was shown, or penalties garnered by Hart on all his pass break ups that occurred deep in Grain Valley’s secondary. Hart also adjusted his angle of pursuit to make a touchdown saving tackle along the Eagles sideline during the first half.
     The Eagles offense kicked into overdrive at the start of the second half. Grain Valley managed to engineer four scoring drives that only took a total of four minutes and thirty six seconds off the clock during the third quarter. Powering the Eagles high octane offense were senior quarterback Cole Keller and junior running back Jackson Wyatt.
     The Eagles senior signal caller was able to rack up 105 yards on the ground to go along with two rushing touchdowns. Keller would also go 8 for 12 through the air with one passing touchdown.
     Much of Keller’s success rushing the football would come on wide “G” or “George” runs with pulling guards around the end of the line of scrimmage. Keller for the second week in a row was quick to credit his offensive line for his success.
     “We saved that play for the second half. The O-line did a great job, I wasn’t even touched on those runs. It’s easy to do what we did tonight when your offensive line is so good,” Keller said.
     Wyatt also reaped the rewards of the hard work done by the group in front of him. Wyatt would average just over 11 yards per carry for the game, compiling 155 yards on 14 carries and one rushing touchdown.
      Ball security was paramount for the Eagles as the game wore on with Oak Park defenders trying to strip the football to create a turnover. Wyatt was quick to credit running back coach Chris Pate for ball security work done during practice in his post-game comments.
     “We always work ball security first thing at practice every day. Coach Pate does a great job in preparing us for what we face on Friday night. My job is to run hard and break tackles. We had success again this week on our ‘down’ play (off tackle trap with a backside pulling guard),” Wyatt said.
     Grain Valley Eagles Head Football Coach David Allie was pleased with his team’s physical effort against a Northmen squad that possessed size and a significant number of upperclassmen starters. Grain Valley Principal Dr. Jeremy Plowman, who does broadcast announcing during football games made a point after the game in telling Allie that the Eagle’s second half was one of the best he’d seen in quite a while.
     “We made adjustments offensively on our ‘down’ play at the half. Our path (by the running back) was a little too wide and we made it narrower against their nose guard and it took off for us. We were able to run the quarterback to the ‘seven’ (alignment technique of the defensive end) side and ‘down’ to the ‘eight’ side (alignment technique of the defensive end) with success,” Allie said.
     “Wyatt is a great kid and he ran hard for us tonight. Cole (Keller) as well.”
     Allie continued, “On the other side of the ball, Newsom has a wrestling background. He played beside Seth Dankenbring last season, and he followed his lead in wanting to get downhill fast. We’ve backed him up a couple yards this year at his position because he’s able to close so fast and it has helped him read better what the offense is doing in front of him. He’s the leader of our defense.”
     “Hart is cool as a cucumber back there. He was our leading tackler last season on special teams as a freshman. He’s mature beyond his years as a sophomore in that nothing rattles him. He conducts himself in a ‘yes sir, no sir’ manner as a student of the game. Next to Hunter (Newsom), he knows football as well as anyone on the defensive side.”
     The Eagles will head north of the Missouri River this Friday, September 11th to take on the Park Hill Panthers at Preston Field. The Panthers will be 1-1 heading into the game. For now, the Eagles get to enjoy starting the season undefeated as they prepare for their next opponent.
     “At 2-0 we haven’t lost, so that’s always a plus,” Wyatt said to the amusement of Keller and Newsom.
 

     While this year’s Grain Valley Fair will be missing the traditional carnival and parade, organizers have made an effort to provide plenty of family fun this weekend.
     Dubbed the “Not Fair” Fair in recognition of the modifications required due to COVID-19, the event will still feature many of the typical fair favorites at Armstrong Park. The Grain Valley Fair committee is utilizing the  generous space available at Armstrong Park to allow for plenty of social distancing for attendees.
     Grain Valley Fair committee member Mike Todd said the biggest obstacle this year was working to ensure Jackson County would approve their plans and allow the fair to continue.
     “We had to submit a pretty detailed plan to them in order to get the approval and that plan has changed a couple of times over the last couple of months.  We were really thinking when this all started at the beginning of summer that the requirements would be eased some, but in some cases things have gotten more strict,” Todd said.
     Food Truck Friday Night will kick off the event from 4:30pm—7:30pm. Todd said there will be more trucks than usual this Friday than usually featured at the Friday night event.
     The Grain Valley Partnership will host a modified beer garden on Friday and Saturday.
     Local band, Lake Love, will perform at 6:00pm on Friday.
     “Lake Love is composed of local Grain Valley High School students. They are playing for tips only so let's make sure Grain Valley shows them the love,” Grain Valley Partnership Executive Director Tasha Lindsey said.
     The “Not Fair” Fair continues Saturday, September 12th, with a selection of non-food vendors from 11:00am—5:00pm and food vendors from 11:00am—7:30pm.
     “For a lot of these vendors, this is one of only a few events that they can do this year, so we would love to be able to support them.  Most of them are local,” Todd said.
     “We have timed our activities to help with the crowd size. The activities are spread apart to ensure that we cover as much of the area as possible and limit the amount of people in an area at one time,” Lindsey said.
     “We need to make sure that we are thinking of others. Wear a mask, social distance and have fun. We are very fortunate that we are able to have this event so let's all play by the rules.”
     “Bring your yard chairs or blankets for a picnic. There are tables available and we will be spacing those to meet the requirements so that we can be social distanced. We will be disinfecting the tables to ensure that we are providing a safe and clean environment for everyone. Even though we can't bring in a carnival or activities for the littles, we have the park and feel this is a great family event,” Lindsey said.
 

     Benjamin (1803-1888) and Lucinda (1807-1877) Warren came from Tennessee to Missouri in 1848. In 1852, they purchased land and settled at Tarsney in Van Buren Township, just south of Grain Valley. Their ninth of eleven children, Nancy was the first to be born here.
      Their second child, Zachariah was born on March 2, 1829, in Robertson County Tennessee and came with the family to Missouri.  On April 24, 1850 he married Nancy Terrance Doty and they also had eleven children, 7 sons and 4 daughters. The fifth child, born May 20, 1856 was William Andrew Warren.
     It was William Andrew and his wife, Mary Susan Lynch (1851-1950)  who became prominent citizens Grain Valley. About 1900, he partnered with Thomas Webb to establish Warren Webb Hardware. The Warrens had three children, William Durwood Warren (1880-1962), Hartley Ellsworth Warren (1883-1943) and Creola Warren O’Connell (1885-1981). 
     William Durward, known to folks In Grain Valley as “WD” Warren, was born near Tarsney, graduated from Oak Grove High School (Grain Valley had no high school at that time) and Normal No. 2, or Warrensburg Teachers College (until 1919 when it became Central Missouri State  and later UCM). Mr. Warren taught school in Blue Springs before becoming a cashier at the Citizen’s Bank in Blue Springs from 1905 until 1918.
     That year he returned to Grain Valley where he was made bank cashier of the Bank of Grain Valley. He held this position until 1933 when he became bank president and chairman of the board. He retired in 1960 due to illness. 
     He and his wife Madge (Neer) Warren lived in the house at 602 Walnut Street. They had one child, Deloris (1907-1972) who married Howard Mollenkamp. The Mollenkamps and their two daughters, Mary and Linda lived across Charlotte Street at 514 Walnut Street.
     Ellsworth Warren was a cashier at the Bank of Grain Valley from 1905 to 1918. He married Charlotte Owsley and they had two daughters, Mary and Erma. Charlotte Street in Grain Valley was named for his wife. The older daughter was in bad health and her doctors recommended the family move to Colorado.
     Ellsworth’s career continued in banking in Alamosa, Colorado. The family then moved to Denver where he became manager of the Regional Agricultural Credit Corporation. Their final move was to Wichita, Kansas, where Ellsworth was manager of the Federal Crop administration. He died in 1943.
     Creola married Mr. John T. O’Connell. In recent months, I have written about his tonsorial on Main Street and the O’Connell Service Station and Cafe on U. S. 40 Highway (Eagle’s Parkway).
     I do not know when the Warren House on Walnut Street was built. I do not know if it was built by the Warrens or if someone else lived there first, perhaps Ellsworth and his family. In 2001 several GVHS art students made charcoal drawings of some of the homes, churches and business establishments in Grain Valley. The Warren House is among those drawing displayed at the Historical Society.
     Drop by the Museum any Wednesday between 10:00am and 3:00pm to see the drawings. We also have a very thick notebook on the Warren Family, which was compiled by Patricia Davis Parr, great-granddaughter of William and Susan Warren.
 

     You go out to purchase a new computer because your old computer is running slower than it used to.  You think everything will be faster and easier once you get that new computer home, but you notice that your desktop or laptop computer lagging. I know there is a group of you who would make the statement 'You should have purchased a Mac', but in reality, most of you focus on price rather than system specifications when getting a new computer.
     Most people who purchase Mac don't have to worry about system specifications, but purchasers of Windows computers do need to keep an eye out for the right configuration.
So if you're wondering why that new shiny computer is running slow, it's probably one of these reasons.
     Before I list out the reasons why that new computer is running slow, I need to share that Mac and Windows computers are essentially the same on the inside.  I'm sure all of the parts on the inside of both computers come from the same factories in Taiwan. Apple makes a point to make sure they make their computer top of the line.  This makes purchasing a Mac easy, as all you have to worry about is what size screen you need or if you want a desktop or a laptop. 
     Windows computers work as well as Macs, but they are usually designed for different price points to appeal to users from all economic backgrounds.  The problem with this is that lower price Windows computers you purchase might not handle your high tech needs.  Regardless, Windows or Mac, here is what you should be searching for:

1. Not enough computing power.
     In many cases, that new computer you purchased may not have a fast processor or enough RAM. The processor allows the computer to process information.  The faster the processor, the faster it will run. RAM helps your computer do more at once, meaning you can have multiple files and programs open at the same time.
     When looking at computers don't focus on the brand name. Get a computer with an Intel i5, i7 or i9 processor.  As far as RAM, make sure your new computer comes with  8GB, 16GB or more of RAM available. How much you need is going to depend on what you plan on doing with the computer.
     For most people who use a Windows or Mac computer, I recommend at least 8GB of RAM, but 16GB offers a better computer experience.

2. You got a computer with an old school hard drive.
     Even though (SSD) or solid-state drives have been around for a while, there are some computer manufactures that will install older mechanical hard drives in computers to keep the price lower. These drives can slow your computer down because unlike SSD, the drive has to spin around to find your information like an old school vinyl LP. 
     SSD drives work super fast because there are no moving parts.  This allows your computer to start faster, find documents and files quicker, and just improves your overall computer experience.
     Even if your computer is a couple of years old, you might want to consider upgrading to an SSD.  The price of installation is a fraction of the cost of a new computer.  Plus, you can transfer an exact duplicate of your old computer hard drive to the new drive and you won't miss a beat.

3. Your computer came loaded with a bunch of unwanted software. 
     You won't see this with Apple computers, but Windows computers will sometimes come loaded with what's called 'bloatware'. Bloatware includes all of those useless trials and games that you will never use. 
     These third-party programs are a source of revenue for the computer manufacturer.  The best thing to so when you get a new computer is to completely uninstall this junk from your computer.

4. It was your Internet that was Slow, not the computer.
     With much of the work you do being on the Internet, it's easy to get confused if your computer is running slow vs a slow internet connection.  Visit Speedtest.net (www.speedtest.net) to check out your Internet speed.  You should have a download speed of 25 Mbps or higher to be able to take full advantage of video conferencing, emailing, file sharing, and more.

     Improved speed is the main reason you should invest in a new laptop or desktop computer. Don’t let a lagging computer disrupt your productivity. Follow the steps I have outlined every time you invest in new technology.
 
     Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. If you prefer to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and exciting for you.
 

     I hate when I get an earworm and keep singing something over and over. Mowing the grass not too long ago I found myself singing the song, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I’m not sure why. The song is just okay, and I’ve never even seen the whole movie. I do like breakfast, though. It’s probably my favorite meal.
     We all like to eat. We all have our favorites. We talk about food, watch shows about food, exchange recipes, and delight ourselves in plating food. If you’ve never been to a church potluck (pre-COVID of course), you’re really missing out. Center stage is generally the official Baptist bird: fried chicken.
     Have you noticed there is an intimacy involved with eating? Most of us have invited people into our homes to share a meal. It’s a special occasion. We do our best to make our guests feel warm and invited and try to delight their palette.
     Also, when two people enjoy one another’s company, they take the relationship to the next level and often go on a date to a restaurant. As seen in Elf, the movie, Michael, Buddy’s little brother, encourages him to ask his love interest, Jovie, out on a date to eat food and then advised him, “If she says yes, you’re in. It’s like a secret code girls have.”
     We also serve food at most of our social gatherings and for holidays. What would a birthday party be like without a birthday cake? Families also build holiday traditions around food. It may be odd to you, but my family’s Christmas would not be complete without my wife’s black beans and rice with roast pork.
     It’s a staple of our family and celebrates the Cuban heritage of my wife. We’ve enjoyed it for as long as I can remember and our family wouldn’t have it any other way.
     The Bible has a great deal to say about eating—much more than I could write about here. The Bible even talks about eating with God. For example, in Exodus 24, Moses and some of the elders of Israel went up on Mount Sinai and “beheld God and ate and drank” (Exodus 24:9-11).
Jesus used the metaphor of food to symbolize eternal life.
     In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” It’s an invitation to intimacy. An invitation to dine with the Savior—forever.
     It’s interesting that we can eat a huge meal and be totally stuffed, but when someone says, “You ready for dessert?” we find room—especially if it’s one of our favorites!
     But it’s also true that, as stuffed and as miserable as we might be after eating a huge lunch, in just a few hours, we feel the need, or the want, to eat again. The food is delicious and nutritious—but temporary. We are not fully satisfied.
     The “food” that Jesus offers is real and fulfilling. He says, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you” (John 6:27). This spiritual food can’t be obtained. It must be attained and is available for the asking. It is a free gift of God (Eph 2:8-9).
     Food is also a part of our worship. Jesus gave His followers a wonderful meal to commemorate His life and substitutionary death. He gave us the bread and the cup.
     It’s a visible, tangible reminder of a deeper, spiritual truth. Some churches call this meal the eucharist (which means thanksgiving), some call it communion (idea of participation), while some call it the Lord’s Supper (term used by Paul in First Corinthians 11).
     The meaning and frequency change from church to church, but the basic truth is consistent. It calls us to reflection and remembrance.
Jesus celebrated a final meal with His twelve disciples. This is often called, “the last supper.” As you remember, Jesus and His disciples were actually eating the Passover meal together. They commemorated the fact that God redeemed them from slavery in Egypt. Redemption came from the powerful hand of God and the provision of the Passover lamb.
     During the Last Supper, Jesus redefined the meaning of the Passover meal. He called it the new covenant (Luke 22:20). The bread would symbolize His body and the wine, His blood. At this meal the focus was on Him--the perfect, Passover Lamb.
     Anticipating His passion Jesus said, “as often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24-25). Jesus gave us the bread and the cup to represent powerful symbols to memorialize His ultimate sacrifice. As humans, we tend to forget all kinds of things. Jesus gave us this powerful visual aid to call us to remember.
     When we see the bread, we remember that Jesus called Himself, “the bread of life.” When we break the bread, we remember His body that was broken and that we are all part of one body (1 Cor 10:17).
     When we eat of it, we remember that man does not live by bread alone” (Matt 4:4). Regular bread just leads to the vicious cycle of more hunger. We’re invited to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34:8). We remember that Jesus satisfies the deepest need of our soul.
     He also gave us the fruit of the vine. A reminder of the ultimate sacrifice to purchase our pardon—His precious blood. In the Old Testament, sacrificial lambs had to continually be offered for atonement. Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, died once. No other sacrifices are needed.
     As we partake, we remember. We remember our former hopelessness. We remember the emptiness and the wandering. We also remember the cost. God did not just flip a switch in heaven to purchase our pardon.
     The free gift to us cost God the life of His only Son. Finally, we remember that in this life of pain and frustration, we’re just passing through. We’re remember that which is to come. The Bible says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor 11:26).
     And when He comes, it will be party time. Jesus promises, at that time, another meal. The table is already set and He waits for His own. He tells His disciples that He will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom comes (Luke 22:18). Breakfast at Tiffany’s is probably overrated. The social event of eternity, we’re told, is the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:9).
     Heaven will be a glorious, eternal party with food. Jesus Himself invites us to come and to celebrate. The best news is that everyone is invited to participate. He stands at the door and knocks, but the human heart must be opened from the inside. You hungry?
 
Dr. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.
 

     Students returned to the classroom in-person and virtually from home September 8th after nearly six months away due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The typical first day jitters and excitement were on full display, even if concealed a bit by face masks.
     Kindergarten through fifth grade students returned to the traditional classroom setting, attending in-person five days a week with an emphasis on the use of virtual platforms.
     Middle and high school school students with last names K-Z began the school year in person, while students with last names A-J logged in from home, attending school virtually. Secondary students will attend school in-person two days per week and work from home the remaining three days.  
Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent, Student and Community Services, said the district once again saw an increase in the student population.
     “We are pleased to report a smooth first day of school. Today we have 4,398 students in Kindergarten through 12th grades, including 460 students (10.4%) who are virtual. This is up from the 4373 students on the first day a year ago,” Welle said.
     Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marc Snow, making the rounds on the first day of school reported that students and teachers were excited to return to  a more normal school routine.
     "It is clear these students are thrilled to be back in school and our teachers are eager to help them learn, grow, and continue towards their goals. We look forward to a great school year,” Snow said.